May 15, 2012

Morocco's grain imports fall 10% on-year

Since the start of the 2011/12 campaign that begun in June 2011 until the end of April 2012, Morocco imported 52.5 million quintals (equivalent of 5.25 million tonnes) of grain, the state-run grains authority ONICL posted on its website.

The volume of imported grain was by 10% lower on the year.

Soft wheat, the main staple food in Morocco, accounted for 47% of total imports, followed by corn (31%), durum wheat (12%) and barley (10%). France topped the list of grain exporters to Morocco accounting for 37% of total imports, followed by Argentina (22%) and Brazil (12%).

ONICL also reported that wheat harvest in April amounted to 22.4 million quintals, of which 99.3% was soft wheat. Overall, the volume of grain held by traders at Moroccan grain terminals increased by 12% m/m to 20.9 quintals by the end of April.

ONICLE also launched two tenders for the supply of 1.9 million quintals of barley for its distribution to farmers at subsidised rates to safeguard livestock. The government decided to extend the suspension of import duties on wheat allowing tariff-free imports until the end of May 2012. Prior to the end of 2011, Morocco applied an import tariff of 135% on soft wheat and 80% on durum.